It's Clay Travis, but the point is largely true. ESPN isn't going to fold, most likely, but it's going to have to pay less for rights fees, and it's going to have to transition to a more cord-cutter friendly format to augment its current model.
WatchESPN is a fantastic app. They could quickly and easily roll that out to a standalone subscription model as soon as it's capable of doing so based on their current agreements. However, they'll have to cross that tipping point where doing so doesn't anger the cable companies that are relying on them as their tent pole for subscribers.
Hell, once ESPN goes standalone, like HBO, people are going to come off in droves. Fox will be forced to react, so there will be nothing left to keep people on cable unless they're really in love with CNN and Fox News.